This phase I trial studies the side effects and the best dose of lenalidomide when given together with cetuximab in treating patients with colorectal cancer or head and neck cancer that has spread to other places in the body and usually cannot be cured or controlled with treatment. Biological therapies, such as lenalidomide, use substances made from living organisms that may stimulate the immune system in different ways and stop tumor cells from growing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, may block tumor growth in different ways by targeting certain cells. Giving lenalidomide together with cetuximab may be a better treatment for colorectal cancer or head and neck cancer.

Maximum-tolerated dose of lenalidomide with cetuximab, defined as the highest dose level at which 0 or 1 patients out of 6 experiences a dose limiting toxicity graded by National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 [ Time Frame: 28 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

Toxicity will be classified as either possibly, probably, or definitely related to study treatment. The maximum grade for each type of toxicity will be recorded for each patient, and frequency tables will be reviewed to determine toxicity patterns in each of the treatment arms.

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Response as measured by RECIST [ Time Frame: Up to 6 weeks after completion of study treatment ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

The statistical analysis corresponding to the evaluation of patient responses in measurable disease will be descriptive in nature. The reporting of the patient responses will include a description of all patients enrolled on study as well as evaluable patients receiving at least one cycle of combination therapy with lenalidomide. The response rate analysis will include an explanation of which patients were excluded.

A bivariate plot will be used to describe the relationship between tumor shrinkage and peak ADCC and cytokine levels over time. Results will be summarized using descriptive statistics (i.e. means, medians, standard deviations, 95% confidence intervals for continuous variables, and frequencies for discrete data).

A bivariate plot will be used to describe the relationship between tumor shrinkage and peak ADCC and cytokine levels over time. Results will be summarized using descriptive statistics (i.e. means, medians, standard deviations, 95% confidence intervals for continuous variables, and frequencies for discrete data).

Patients receive lenalidomide orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-21 and cetuximab intravenously (IV) over 1-2 hours on days 1 and 15. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for 6 weeks.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed malignancy that is metastatic or unresectable and for which standard curative or palliative measures do not exist or are no longer effective; eligible malignancies include: colorectal cancer KRAS wild-type and squamous cell head and neck cancer

No curative intent therapy available; there is no limit on prior number of therapies; prior epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-directed therapy (tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies - including cetuximab, panitumumab, or investigational EGFR directed monoclonal antibodies) will be allowed in the phase I dose escalation; patients who have received monoclonal antibody therapy must be off all monoclonal antibodies four weeks (28 days) prior to study treatment; no chemotherapy within 28 days of trial medication

There will be an expansion cohort for colorectal cancer patients only; for the expansion cohort, there is no limit on prior chemotherapy; the colorectal expansion cohort will include patients with cetuximab or panitumumab-resistant or refractory disease (progression during cetuximab/panitumumab therapy or within 3 months of cetuximab/panitumumab therapy

Females of childbearing potential (FCBP) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test with a sensitivity of at least 25 mIU/mL within 10 - 14 days and again within 24 hours prior to starting cycle 1 of lenalidomide; further, they must either commit to continued abstinence from heterosexual intercourse or begin TWO acceptable methods of birth control: one highly effective method and one additional effective method AT THE SAME TIME, at least 28 days before starting lenalidomide; FCBP must also agree to ongoing pregnancy testing; men must agree to use a latex condom during sexual contact with a FCBP, even if they have had a successful vasectomy; a FCBP is a sexually mature woman who: 1) has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or 2) has not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months); all patients must be counseled by a trained counselor every 28 days about pregnancy precautions and risks of fetal exposure

Men must agree to use a latex condom during sexual contact with a FCBP even if they have had a successful vasectomy

All patients must be counseled at a minimum of every 28 days about pregnancy precautions and risks of fetal exposure

Able to take aspirin (81 or 325 mg) daily for prophylactic anticoagulation (patients intolerant to aspirin may use warfarin or low molecular weight heparin)

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients who have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) prior to entering the study or those who have not recovered from adverse events (>= grade 3) due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier

Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents

Uncontrolled brain metastases; patients who have received definitive therapy, including radiation, and are not requiring ongoing medical therapy (i.e. steroids) for brain metastases will be allowed

History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to lenalidomide or cetuximab or other agents used in study

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01254617